Wine Country Gift Baskets Giveaway - Mother's Day Gift Ideas

We have a fantastic giveaway for you to enter, in honor of Mother's Day!

As a mom, YOU deserve something special!

Check out our REVIEW of Mom's Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Assortment - HERE

....AND Enter to....

WIN your very own Mom's Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Assortment 

from Wine Country Gift Baskets, today by completing the Rafflecopter Form!

 Then go shop at Wine Country Gift Baskets, to send YOUR mom one too before, May 13th!

• Deadline to enter: 5/18/12 11:59pm
• Click Read more >>> for Entry Form

Mission Tuition - begin saving for your child's college education today!

Any of you moms or dads thinking about returning to school at some point in time?  

Expect one or more of your children to go to college, and would like to start saving towards their tuition?

Like to shop online?  

How the heck do these two things have anything in common?

 

Mission Tuition, takes rebates and monies earned online by shopping at participating retailers, and deposits these cash rewards into a savings account directly, for you.  

Since you're already shopping online, might as well "pay yourself back" and not just back into your shopping funds, but towards something positive, like furthering your education.

When you open up a FREE account with Mission Tuition, they will open an educational account at Wells Fargo bank to begin depositing your earned cash rewards into.

There are tons of participating merchants like:

• 1-800-Flowers
• Diapers.com
• Petco
• Walmart
• Home Depot......and many many more!

  

It's free to join Mission Tuition, so go sign up today and start savings towards your (or your child's) educational future! 

 *  Brought to you by your friend's at Mission Tuition *

Wine Country Gift Baskets - Mom's Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Assortment Review

Mother's Day is coming up, and I have found the perfect place for you to shop for a great Mother's Day Gift!


Wine Country Gift Baskets, has a wonderful assortment of beautiful gift baskets that will make your mother feel like she's been pampered and spoiled by you this holiday.




Every mom is different, with a variety of likes and dislikes, right? Some like tea, some love coffee.  Some moms love chocolate, some love cheese.  So it's important when shopping for a Mother's Day gift, to pick something that is completely "HER."

My mother and I switch back and forth between coffee and tea, depending on our mood, so when I saw  Mom's Tea, Coffee and Cocoa Assortment at Wine Country Gift Baskets, for only $34.95 with FREE shipping,  I was sold!

Mom's Coffee, Tea and Cocoa Assortment - FREE Standard Shipping!

Complete, with two sweet little blue striped coffee mugs, Tazo Tea (mom's favorite), Lily O'Brien's double chocolate chip cookies, chai tea shortbread, Italian milk chocolate pralines, Don Francisco's French roast coffee, Ghirardelli double chocolate hot cocoa, Go Naturally organic pomegranate candy and Beth's oatmeal raisin white chocolate chip cookies.  Talk about an assortment of YUM!

The tasty goodies, that came in my Mom's Coffee gift basket!

Wine Country Gift Baskets, sent me a Mom's Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Assortment to review, and I was so impressed.  I think I might have eaten both sets of cookies in one night, they were so tasty, oops!  The tea and coffee were both fantastic too.

I have to say, that the snazzy little blue and white polka dot tote bag the assortment came in, has been used almost daily - from taking snacks & supplies to the park, to packing books and toys for my daughter's recent car trips, visiting with G-Paw and G-Ma! Hey a mom uses whatever works, and this little tote works great!

The tote bag, that's my new best friend!

If you're on a tight budget this season, Wine Country Gift Baskets is still an option for you, as they have a number of gift baskets under $25.00 and with FREE SHIPPING!

Here are some of my favorites for Mother's Day, under $25.00:

• Mother's Day Cookie Collection - $24.95
• Starbuck's and Tazo Tower - $24.95
• Wine Country Sampler - $24.95

At Wine Country Gift Baskets, Mother's Day isn't the only holiday that's celebrated.  You can shop by occasion, including:

• Birthday
• Thank You
• Get Well
•  New Baby
• Housewarming.......and more! 

So, next time, you're in need of a unique gift, whether it be a fresh fruit basket, for your health conscious sister, a champagne selection for your newly engaged bestie, or even a golf themed gift basket for your father-in-law,  look no further than Wine Country Gift Baskets!

WIN a Wine Country Gift Basket!

• We're giving away a Mom's Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Assortment in celebration of Mother's Day
• Enter to Win your own Wine Country Gift Basket between May 1st - May 18th
  

* Disclosure: I was given a Wine Country Gift Basket to facilitate this review.  However all opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary item. 

Earth Day has come and gone....but Take a Load Off Sweepstakes lives on!

Tide and Future Friendly have teamed up to bring you an amazing sweepstakes to encourage cold water washing, and increase your own environmentally friendly practices. 

I took the cold water challenge, now will you?

If you do, you'll have the chance to win win a High Efficiency Washer and Dryer and a one-year supply of Tide Coldwater!

Dates: Now through May 13th, 2012

Direct link to sweepstakes entry: http://on.fb.me/Hflgt5

 
Entry info: Enter once per day to increase your chances of winning. A new winner will be picked each week through May 13th.

Prize: Maytag® Bravos XL® HE Top Load Washer and Dryer and a one year supply of Tide Coldwater!

P.S. Thanks, SheSpeaks for letting me know about the Take A Load Off sweepstakes!

.....and if you're in the mood for encouraging EARTH FRIENDLY habits.......

My Sustainable Produce Recipe - Grilled Corn & Asparagus

Please take a minute to VOTE TODAY for my Sustainable Produce Recipe "Grilled Corn & Asparagus" in The Collective's Sustainable Food Recipe Challenge

I only have 1 vote so far....{sniff, sniff}

I could win a $200 Gift Card to Whole Foods - if I WIN and you voted for me I will give away a set of Formaticum Cheese Papers & Labels (just for those who voted for me - so the chances of winning are GREAT)!

Thanks so much!!!

Formaticum Cheese Paper Review & Giveaway - ends 5/10

It's still National Grilled Cheese Month here at McKinney Mommas (barely)......

So, we have a few more cheese-related giveaways and reviews to share with you all, if you aren't already sick of CHEESE. I know I'm not.

I found a fantastic product, called Formaticum Cheese Paper during my hunt for cheese-related items to review for National Grilled Cheese Month.

Photo courtesy of: Formaticum.com

One of my biggest complaints about buying "fancy cheese", is that I never feel like I can store it properly. Once you unwrap that precious block of cheese, it never seems to keep it's original moisture or texture, does it?  I always end up throwing away that last bit of cheese and feel so guilty about it. Never again. 

After receiving and using Formaticum Cheese Paper on my recent cheese samples, I'm convinced this is a product that meets my cheese storage needs and "protects my investments" when purchasing some of the higher priced cheeses.

Photo courtesy of: Formaticum.com

The outer layer of cheese paper, is designed to protect and maintain the cheese's optimal humidity levels, simulating the cheese cave in which it was stored prior to purchasing the cheese. There is an inner porous layer of plastic, which allows the cheese to breathe, preventing moisture beads from settling on the surface.

 

My "fancy cheese" wrapped in Formaticum Cheese Paper

One package of Formaticum Cheese Papers is only $9.00 and includes (12) 11x14 sheets and 24 adhesive labels, you can use to identify the name of the cheese, style and date purchased. I have been showered with TONS of cheese samples this month, and am not even half way through my pack of cheese papers. Unless you're purchasing 1/2 wheels of cheese, on a regular basis, you'll be able to cut down the sheets to whatever size you'd like and make your collection of papers stretch!

Formaticum Cheese Papers & Labels - photo from Formaticum.com

So, if you're into cheese, and want to protect your PRECIOUS cheese investments, like I do. Head over to Formaticum.com and get yourself a set of cheese papers today.  Formaticum Cheese Papers are unique, yet incredibly useful = the perfect gift for the loved FOODIE in your life!

STAY in TOUCH

• FOLLOW Formaticum.com on TWITTER
• LIKE Formaticum.com on FACEBOOK
• SHOP online at Formaticum.com

ENTER TO WIN

(2) Packages of Formaticum Cheese Papers (24 cheese papers & 48 labels)

 (3) WINNERS will be chosen!

Click READ MORE > > > to complete Rafflecopter Entry Form

Ready, Set Eat - Pinterest Contest & Giveaway - ends 5/8

I am pretty new to Pinterest myself, but am liking what I see so far.

If you need some Pinterest practice, and wouldn't mind some "return" on your investment of time, check out the Ready, Set, Eat contest from The Dish and ConAgra Food!

ReadySetEat Pinterest boards have some great recipes to help you solve that never ending question of, "What's for Dinner." Pinterest makes it fun to share these mouth watering recipes with your friends and followers, by re-pinning photos of these fantastic ReadySetEat creations on your own Pinterest boards.

The Dish and Conagra Food has you covered from A-Z with categories like:

• Family Favorites in Under 30 Minutes
• Fishing for Quick Recipes
• Quick and Healthy Meals
• Break out the Grill
• ...........and MORE! 

You can ENTER to WIN 

a ConAgra prize pack including all the ingredients you need to create the recipes from

 the ReadySetEat Pinterest board by doing the following

(Deadline:  May 8, 2012)

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MANDATORY ENTRY:

1. Follow ReadySetEat on Pinterest
2. Create a new Food & Drink board on your Pinterest account and name it “ReadySetEat Pin to Win”
3. Pin five or more of your favorite ReadySetEat recipes to the board
4. Enter the URL to your completed "ReadySetEat Pin to Win" board in a blog comment below

 (Your blog comment post with URL is your Mandatory Entry)

AND FOR BONUS ENTRIES (be sure to leave a comment for each bonus entry completed)

5. Follow McKinney Mommas on Google Plus - right toolbar & leave username
6. Follow McKinney Mommas on Pinterest - right toolbar
7. LIKE McKinney Mommas on Facebook
8. Subscribe to McKinney Mommas via email - right toolbar

* Please be sure to include your email address in your comment, if it's not visible in your Google Profile *

30-minute Chicken & Bean Quesadillas

HAVE FUN PINNING! 

Coupons that expire, at the end of the month!

 Okay, here are a bunch of coupons that will EXPIRE at the end of this month - so print them today to be sure to get your savings! Plus, for each one you print......McKinney Mommas gets an entry into a sweepstakes ;-) - so thanks in advance!

Photo by: nokhoog_buchachon

 COUPONS Ready to Print:

• SAVE $1.00 off any Country Crock® Spread (Excludes Honey and Cinnamon Flavored Spreads)
• $1.25 OFF On any ONE ICBINB! product
• Save $1.00 off any TWO (2) Post® Kids Cereal- only good on 11oz size or larger
• SAVE $1.00 on any ONE (1) bag of Starbucks® coffee (11oz or larger)
• SAVE $1.00 On any ONE Kashi® steam meal™
• SAVE $1.00 off any TWO Dial® or Dial® for Men Body Washes (12oz or larger)
• SAVE 75¢ when you buy any flavor/variety Cascadian Farm® product
• SAVE $1.00 ON FOUR when you buy FOUR any flavor/variety LÄRABAR® or JOCALAT® bars
• SAVE $0.55 on NEW Almond Plus almond milk or any So Delicious® Dairy Free product
• SAVE $3.00 on any Glade® Sense & Spray® starter kit

New Coupons - printable today!

NEW COUPONS

KD Novelties - Personalized Children's Book Review & GIVEAWAY

Did you know that the month of May, is National Family Month?  

National Family Month encourages all families to set aside time to spend together to improve family relationships and focus on creating confident and healthy children.

What better way is there to encourage family development and spend a little extra time together, than reading a book as a family?

KD Novelties, makes Personalized Children's Books and recently sent me one of their selections to review with my young daughter. We chose Mother Goose, since my peanut is under two years old and still interested in the classic nursery rhymes. 

Personalized Mother Goose Book - $11.95

What's exciting, is that with KD Novelties, Your Child is the STAR of Each Story!™  I've never met a kiddo that didn't get a kick out of hearing their name mentioned in a story.  I had the opportunity to personalize the book with a dedication on the first page to my daughter, and used her own and 3 relative's names and a location to make the story unique.

My peanut with her Personalized Mother Goose Book!

 The Mother Goose book, I received, was a sturdy 6x9 hardcover personalized book, just the perfect size to read to my toddler, or even for her to flip through herself. With 24 beautifully colored pages of classic Mother Goose stories and nursery rhymes, we were singing, having fun and bonding throughout the whole book!

Getting a kick out of hearing HER name in the book!

Looking at the bright and colorful pictures.

More About KD Novelties

Personalized children's books are innovative and exciting.  From the moment your child opens one of our books and sees their name woven into the story line, a magical adventure begins - Your Child is the STAR of Each Story!™ Personalized children's books will not only encourage children to read, it enhances their self esteem and self image because they are the stars of the stories.

When you give the gift of personalized books, you are instilling a life long love of reading. Enjoy browsing through our titles and discover the magic that our personalized books can bring to your loved one. Our personalized books for kids feature popular characters that children love. 

- Excerpt from KD Novelties

 

At KD Novelties, there are so many personalized books to choose from, including:

• Batman
• Elmo and other Sesame Street Characters
• Little Mermaid
• Looney Tunes
• Noah's Ark
• Christmas and other holiday themes
• The Flintstones..........and MORE!

So, if you're looking for a special gift that your child will use daily, PLUS be able to treasure as a keepsake down the road, check out KD Novelties and create your own personalized book today!

Stay updated with KD Novelties

• SHOP at KD Novelties
• LIKE KD Novelties on Facebook
• FOLLOW KD Novelties on Twitter

And...............ENTER TO WIN your own Personalized Children's Book from KD Novelties!

GIVEAWAY

• (1) Personalized book - Choose from: Looney Tunes, X-men, Spiderman or Flintstones 
• Deadline: 5/8/12
• Enter to win by clicking READ MORE > > > below and completing Rafflecopter form 

WIN a Las Vegas Mother's Day Weekend from Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè

Photo courtesy of : Kittikun Atsawintarangkul

Which of you mommas out there need a break? 

What........you're all raising your hands?

Me too.

 

Well, in honor of the introduction of the the new Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè, which will be available this May 2012 - you just might have that chance. 

Santa Margherita, is hosting a fabulous Facebook contest just in time for Mother's Day that will give you a chance at TOTAL relaxation and a much needed break. 

How does a Las Vegas Mother's Day Weekend for two, sound?

INCLUDING:

• Airfare for two
• Two nights at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
• A memorable Mother's Day Brunch featuring HGTV star and entertaining expert Monica Pedersen. 
• And other exciting prizes including bottles of wine, boxes of chocolates and copies of Monica Pedersen's new book, "Make it Beautiful." 

Not too shabby, right?  So, direct your kids to Santa Margherita's Facebook page, and have them say why YOU deserve a getaway to be entered to win this fabulous getaway.  Or, nominate your own mother while you're at it! 

GOOD LUCK, ladies!

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Santa Margherita prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

Mother's Day Gift Idea - Vintage Jewelry

It's time to start looking for Mother's Day gifts, as Mother's Day is right around the corner (May 13, 2012). I will be posting some ideas for gifts as the day gets closer. From the practical items, such as spatulas, aprons, and dishes to the more fashionable, purses, shoes, and accessories.

I know it's slightly cliché, but a lot of women I know love jewelery. Actually, my mother was not a huge jewelry fan when I was growing up, but now that her children are grown, and she has more time (a little?) to focus on herself she's started accessorizing more.  Finding the perfect article of jewelry for my mom takes a lot of time.  It's important to me that I pick something out that she'll know was just for her, and not a quick on the fly purchase.

Personally, I love unique and vintage jewelry. I'd rather find a special little ring all tarnished and dinged up, that I can coax back to it's original beauty – instead of something new from a jewelry store in the mall.  As a mother now myself, I like jewelry that has a story.  Something that you can tell has been cherished in a family for years. and passed on from generation to generation.

Over the years, I've picked up vintage pieces of jewelry myself at on ebay, thrift stores, estate sales and even garage sales. I haven't yet, had the pleasure of being able to afford beautiful Edwardian jewelry [Circa 1890 – 1915] but would love to own one of these treasures to pass down to my daughters someday.

It's easier and easier to find vintage jewelry online these days, so you no longer have to paw through all the junk you might come across at a thrift store or estate sale in person.  It's great since many of these companies online will do the work for you, finding precious pieces of vintage jewelry, clean them up and list them for sale online. This way, you can shop by metal, price, style, stone, etc. to find the perfect piece of vintage jewelry.

So, if you're not sure what to get for your mother yet on this Mother's Day, do a little searching online for vintage or antique jewelry and see what treasures you can uncover for your mother this holiday.

Mont Bleu - Swarovski Crystal Glass Nail Files for Mother's Day Gifts

Looking for a unique Mother's Day gift that will make your mom feel special?

Design Glassware by Mont Bleu carry these gorgeous glass nail files, are the perfect functional and beautiful gift to show your mother that she's cherished and loved this Mother's Day.

I was sent a few samples of the glass nail files, tweezers and mini glass nail file to review, from Mont Bleu and was shocked by the beauty and elegance of their products.

The gorgeous Swarovski Crystal Nail File I received!

This Glass Nail File decorated with beautiful, sparkling Swarovski Crystals comes with a lifetime guarantee, so you never need to worry about purchasing another cheap nail file again.  I used this one on my raggedy nails yesterday, and they filed them gently and to perfect in seconds!

The Mini Glass Nail File I was sent from Mont Bleu!

If you're looking for a slightly smaller size to carry in your purse or wallet, Mont Bleu carries these Mini Nail Files, as well. Made from high quality Czech glass, these two sided nail files are durable and made to be strong enough to last a lifetime, yet gentle enough for your nails.

Swarovski Tweezers - Black

Finally, the pair of Swarovski incrusted Tweezers I received, work like a charm.  I've never "tweezed" my eyebrows with such a classy pair of tweezers before, have you? I'm never going back to boring old tweezers again.  From now on, I'm sold on these Mont Bleu glass nail files, for sure.


So, don't wait go buy glass nail file for your favorite mother or loved one today from Design Glassware by Mont Bleu!


*Disclosure: I was given the above items from Mont Bleu to facilitate this review.  No monetary exchange was made, and as always my opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary item. I will not give a positive review to an item I do not like myself.

Tips for dealing with these darn Tree Pollen allergies - courtsey of Children's Claritin

 I'm proud to announce that I was recently chosen to be a part of the Children's Claritin - Mom Crew!

I received a cool Children's Claritin - Mom Crew Tote Bag and a slew of samples to pass out to my neighbors and friends.

This means that throughout the year, I'll be sharing with all of you tips on managing your kiddo's allergies. Please feel free to comment on these blog posts, your own experiences as a mom of a kid with allergies.  Let's all share the "mom allergy wisdom" with each other.

The Claritin® Allergen Guide: Tree Pollen Edition

Outdoor allergens like seasonal pollens and molds can be difficult to manage because it seems like they're everywhere and you can't escape them. Many of them occur at the time you want to be able to enjoy the outdoors, too- like right now! Here's a closer look at a common culprit, tree pollen. Knowing what to look for can help you steer clear of these notorious allergy triggers:

Tree Pollens
When it comes to trees, the real allergy troublemakers are hardwood deciduous trees — oak, elm, birch, maple, ash, alder and hazel:

• These trees generally pollinate from February to April or May.
• In the South, these trees begin pollinating as early as January; in the North, they begin in April.
• People show cross-reactivity to trees in the beech, birch, alder and oak family, and in the juniper and cedar family. This means that if you're allergic to one type of tree, you're likely allergic to others in the same family.
• If you're looking to plant trees on your property, look for species that do not aggravate allergies, such as catalpa, crepe myrtle, dogwood, fig, fir, palm, pear, plum, redbud and redwood trees. 

 For more information on Children's Claritin, please visit: www.claritin.com

And if those allergies are really forcing your little ones to play inside for a day or two, here are some FUN Spring crafty activities you can download to do with your kiddos while you're laying low!  CLICK HERE to download some FUN FLOWER CRAFTS!



*Disclosure:  As a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit.  No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

Artisanal Premium Cheese - Review & GIVEAWAY - ends 5/1/12

You've probably heard of a digital clock, analog clock, a pendulum clock, and even a cuckoo clock; but have you ever heard of a CheeseClock™?

I hadn't heard of a CheeseClock™ prior to stumbling into a fantastic cheese retailer, Artisanal Premium Cheese.  The CheeseClock™ is a great guide to setting up a cheese tasting plate for your next Wine & Cheese party, as a way to "best" enjoy the varying nuances of a selection of cheeses. Heck, you don't even have to have a party, I used the CheeseClock™ just for myself the other night, when setting up my own cheese plate for dessert! Yes, I eat cheese for dessert.....often. Don't judge.

Since I wasn't able to visit Artisanal Premium Cheese in NY on such short notice, Artisanal Cheese sent some fantastic selections straight to my door, here in Texas. Their online cheese shop, is extensive and manned (woman-ed) by passionate cheese professionals that take their time to make sure each of the 200 cheeses they offer are matured and ripened to perfection.

They have a fantastic selection of artisan stand-alone cheeses, as well as gift baskets, books, cheese tools and more.

I was sent the Artisanal CheeseClock Collection, which came in a gorgeous red, reusable tin, and included four cheeses varying from mild to strong.  If you're a beginner in the world of cheese tasting, this is a fantastic way to try a wide variety of cheeses to see if you have a preference for a certain type or style of cheese.

The lovely CheeseClock Collection that was sent to me! Perfect for a gift!

Even if you're an old pro in the world of cheese, or are looking to buy a gift for the beloved foodie in your life, I can promise you they will thoroughly enjoy the CheeseClock Collection from Artisanal Premium Cheese. The selection can vary, based on seasonal availability of certain cheeses, but in my CheeseClock collection I had:

• Geit-in-Stad - Mild - (Netherlands)  This was an excellent, firm goat cheese
• Terraluna - Medium - (Utah) Nice, salty Cow's milk cheddar-like cheese
• Mousseron Jurassian - Bold - (France)  A complex, mushroom-esque raw Cow's milk cheese
• Gouda - Strong - (Netherlands) I want this one shaved on top of a chocolate soufflé - for real!

Here is MY CheeseClock plate from the Artisanal CheeseClock Collection

Artisanal Cheese is the perfect resource to help you prepare for your next cheese tasting party, as they have a nice section where you can get recommendations for wine & cheese pairings.  There is an easy to view, drop down box where you can select what type of wine you'd like to serve and a list of cheese recommendations will pop up for you! Simple as that.

What I wouldn't give up to live in New York, so I could "stumble" into the actual Artisanal Premium Cheese Center and take one of their tasting classes this month:

• 4/17/12 - Single & Blended Scotch with Cheese
• 4/20/12 - Cheese & Wine 101 
• 4/21/12 - Italian Cheese & Wine
• 4/27/12 - French Cheese & Wine
• For a full list of classes at Artisanal Premium Cheese Center - (click here) 

 

 More About Artisanal Premium Cheese

Artisanal has revolutionized cheese appreciation in the United States by making the world's finest cheeses available nationwide as never before. What sets Artisanal Premium Cheese apart is the art of affinage - an ancient practice by which our passionate cheese professionals complete the cheese maker's labor of love by patiently nurturing each of the 200 cheeses we offer to optimal ripeness and peak flavor. With a dedicated staff of affineurs, and state-of-the-art aging caves, Artisanal alone provides top quality cheese for fine-dining restaurants, specialty gourmet stores, and to directly to consumers.
-  courtesy of http://www.artisanalcheese.com/

• FOLLOW Artisanal Cheese on Twitter
• LIKE Artisanal Cheese on Facebook
• WATCH Artisanal Cheese on YouTube
• SHOP Artisanal Cheese online

And if that's not enough cheese talk (rather, CheeseClock™) to keep you satisfied for the week.............

ENTER TO WIN

Artisanal Cheese GIVEAWAY 

• Prize: $25 Gift Certificate to Artisanal Premium Cheese AND "Great Grilled Cheese" cookbook
• To enter: Click READ MORE > > > to complete Rafflecopter Entry Form

*Disclosure: I was given a CheeseClock Collection basket from Artisanal Premium Cheese to facilitate this review. However, all opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary item. 

National Grilled Cheese Month is 1/2 way over, already!

 National Grilled Cheese Month at McKinney Mommas

National Grilled Cheese Month is already HALF way OVER! [sniff, sniff]

I've been having so much fun researching and trying new cheeses, making my OWN CHEESE and sharing my general love for this precious food all month long! :-)

Be sure to Enter to Win your own Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheesemaking Kit from New England Cheesemaking Supply Company before the deadline on April 20, 2012

Giveaway ends: 4/20/12

Itchin' to win more CHEESY gifts for yourself or a loved one?  Stay tuned to McKinney Mommas for an upcoming giveaway of "Great Grilled Cheese" - a cookbook for you grilled cheese lovers and a BONUS $25 Gift Certificate to Artisanal Premium Cheese

"Great Grilled Cheese" cookbook by Laura Werlin

Until then.....anyone have tips they'd like to share on how to make your BEST Grilled Cheese?

Photo Gifts from Shutterfly for Mother's Day, Father's Day and Graduation Gifts

Photo ©:  Mather Photography

My daughter was the first grandchild on my side of the family, welcomed very happily by the family after 8 years of marriage (it was about time!)  Since her birth, it's been fun getting to shop around the web for gifts for the grandparents and see which ones were best received by both sides of the family.

Now, I've been using Shutterfly for my digital photos and sharing online, since WAY before my daughter was born.  However, it was only after she was born that I started using Shutterfly to make and order photo gifts for my family.  

It's pretty unanimous, photo gifts are one that both sets of grandparents can't get enough of, and can't stop talking about. My daughter's proud grandparents love to show off her smiley face, so we've given them both photo books and photo mugs over the last year for birthdays and holidays from Shutterfly. 

We gave these photo mugs "from our little peanut" to her grandparents over the holidays!

My husband has started asking for "new pictures" of his kiddo to display on his desk at work.  I'm thinking that for Father's Day, we'll probably create a personalized desk calendar for him to take to his work, so he can show off our little peanut to his colleagues.

Desk Calendars at Shutterfly.com

......and I sure I wouldn't mind if one of you want to hint to my husband that I'd love any of these photo gifts for Mother's Day:

iPhone Case - for my NEW iPhone :-)

A Canvas Print for my bare wall!

I love that Shutterfly is constantly having special offers and promotional deals, so you can usually find a discount or coupon code for those digital prints or photo gift that you create for a Graduation, Mother's Day or Father's Day gift! 

Sign up for their newsletter, or follow them on Twitter or Facebook to be sure to catch the coupon codes and promotional deals they offer (I DO and probably haven't paid full price since!)

·         LIKE Shutterfly on Facebook

·         FOLLOW Shutterfly on Twitter

·         Take an interest in Shutterfly on Pinterest

ENJOY shopping and creating your own personalized gifts on Shutterfly!

*Disclosure: I was offered a gift code from Shutterfly to facilitate this review.  As always, my words and opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary gift code.